How Much Do Nurse Practitioners Make?
Average Nurse Practitioner Salary
The median average nurse practitioner salary is $129,480, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, as of July 2024. That means that nurse practitioners make more than double the average annual salary for all other occupations.
In addition to being professionally and emotionally gratifying, becoming a nurse practitioner provides the security of knowing you’ve chosen a career with tremendous job security that is financially rewarding.
Popular Online Nurse Practitioner (NP) Programs
Earn your nursing degree from one of the largest nursing education providers in the U.S. Walden University’s BSN, MSN, post-master’s APRN certificate, and DNP programs are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). Get enhanced practicum support with our Practicum Pledge.
CCNE
Online
RN Required
Enrollment: Nationwide, excluding NY, RI and CT. Certain programs have additional state restrictions. Check with Walden for details.
-
MSN - Psychiatric-Mental Health NP
-
MSN - Family NP
-
MSN - Adult-Gerontology Acute Care NP
-
MSN - Adult-Gerontology Primary Care NP
-
MSN - Pediatric NP - Primary Care
-
Post-Master's Cert - Psychiatric-Mental Health NP
-
Post-Master's Cert - Family NP
-
Post-Master's Cert - Adult-Gerontology Acute Care NP
-
Post-Master's Cert - Adult-Gerontology Primary Care NP
-
DNP
Whether you’re taking the first steps toward a nursing degree, seeking to advance as a nurse or want to hone your craft with specialized study, there’s a path for you at Purdue Global’s School of Nursing. Our programs were designed so that you can easily balance your lives at home and work with school - without sacrificing the rigor and cutting-edge curriculum of a quality nursing education.
CCNE
Online
RN Required
Enrollment: Nationwide, but certain programs have state restrictions. Check with Purdue for details.
GCU's College of Nursing and Health Care Professions has a nearly 35-year tradition of preparing students to fill evolving healthcare roles as highly qualified professionals.
CCNE
Online
RN Required
Enrollment: Nationwide
At Ohio University, we provide aspiring and current nursing professionals programs and credentials that will help them launch their careers and advance toward leadership positions.
CCNE
Online
RN Required
Enrollment: Nationwide, except AL, AZ, CO, DE, GA, IA, ID, KS, LA, MD, MN, ND, NE, NY, OK, OR, RI, SD, TN, UT, VA, WA, and WY
Nurses Helping Nurses: Why You Can Trust Nurse.org
As the leading educational website for nurses by nurses, Nurse.org is committed to editorial integrity and data-driven analysis.
✔ Content written by 80+ licensed, practicing nurses who are experts in their respective specialties. Learn more about our nurse contributors.
✔ Transparent, trusted salary data sources from the U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics (BLS), Payscale, ZipRecruiter, and Glassdoor. Learn more about our data sources.
✔ Consistent article updates to ensure they are as relevant and accurate as possible, utilizing the latest data and information when it becomes available.
Salary Range for Nurse Practitioners
Even those compensated at the lowest end of the salary range for nurse practitioners make $95,530, much higher than the average national income. On the other hand, the salary for a nurse practitioner on the high end of the range can reach up to $1211,820, per the BLS.
Nurse Practitioner Salary Facts
For the last 23 years, the Clinical Advisor’s Nurse Practitioner and Physician Assistant Salary Survey has been the gold standard for NPs to determine the salaries of others in their profession. Here's what they found out about nurse practitioner salaries in the most recent (2022) survey:
Income and Satisfaction
- 48.6% of NPs reported earning a higher salary compared to the previous year
- 49.5% of NPs reported earning more income due to the COVID-19 pandemic
- 37.9% of NPs reported earning less income due to the pandemic
- 35.4% of NPs reported feeling "satisfied" or "very satisfied" with their compensation
- The 6.1% of respondents who felt "very satisfied" with their salary earned the most on average ($141,889)
Average Salaries
- The average nurse practitioner salary was $117,054 compared to $112,979 in 2021
- NPs working in hospitals earned the most per year ($125,682); NPs at schools/universities earned the least ($106,250)
- NPs working in internal medicine/family medicine/primary care earned an average of $110,920
Regional Distribution
- The majority of NP respondents worked in the South (37.9%)
- NPs in the West reported the highest average salary ($130,410)
- Most NPs worked in urban areas (41.7%) and suburban areas (35.7%)
Nurse Practitioner Salary by Years of Experience
Payscale.com reports the average salary of a nurse practitioner as $107,442 or $56.34 per hour. But, an annual NP salary may vary depending on years of experience:
- Less than 1 year of experience: Average annual salary of $99K
- 1 to 4 years of experience: Average annual salary of $106K
- 5 to 9 years of experience: Average annual salary of $112K
- 10 to 19 years of experience: Average annual salary of $117K
- 20 years of experience: Average annual salary of $115K
>> Show Me Online Nurse Practitioner Programs
Average Nurse Practitioner Salary by State
Many factors impact the salary of a nurse practitioner. However, the largest variations are due to geography. Learn how much you can make as a nurse practitioner, depending on the state you practice in:
Nurse Practitioner Salary by State
| State | Annual Mean Salary |
| Alabama | $110,020 |
| Alaska | $126,170 |
| Arizona | $132,560 |
| Arkansas | $113,410 |
| California | $161,540 |
| Colorado | $121,990 |
| Connecticut | $136,980 |
| Delaware | $131,110 |
| District of Columbia | $134,850 |
| Florida | $119,710 |
| Georgia | $121,150 |
| Hawaii | $132,610 |
| Idaho | $124,550 |
| Illinois | $126,900 |
| Indiana | $123,320 |
| Iowa | $130,820 |
| Kansas | $119,270 |
| Kentucky | $110,370 |
| Louisiana | $118,670 |
| Maine | $122,940 |
| Maryland | $127,990 |
| Massachusetts | $144,010 |
| Michigan | $120,680 |
| Minnesota | $135,010 |
| Mississippi | $117,490 |
| Missouri | $116,680 |
| Montana | $124,640 |
| Nebraska | $121,680 |
| Nevada | $148,670 |
| New Hampshire | $130,740 |
| New Jersey | $145,030 |
| New Mexico | $136,770 |
| New York | $142,830 |
| North Carolina | $121,590 |
| North Dakota | $127,760 |
| Ohio | $122,870 |
| Oklahoma | $124,330 |
| Oregon | $144,950 |
| Pennsylvania | $127,450 |
| Rhode Island | $133,460 |
| South Carolina | $116,940 |
| South Dakota | $120,980 |
| Tennessee | $103,720 |
| Texas | $130,010 |
| Utah | $127,820 |
| Vermont | $126,100 |
| Virginia | $120,870 |
| Washington | $145,400 |
| West Virginia | $113,450 |
| Wisconsin | $128,330 |
| Wyoming | $123,560 |
Source: BLS, Data extracted September 19, 2023
Top 5 Highest Paying States for Nurse Practitioners
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, these states have the highest average salary for a nurse practitioner:
- California - $161,540 per year
- Nevada - $148,670
- Washington - $145,400
- New Jersey - $145,030
- Oregon - $144,950
Popular Online Nurse Practitioner (NP) Programs
Earn your nursing degree from one of the largest nursing education providers in the U.S. Walden University’s BSN, MSN, post-master’s APRN certificate, and DNP programs are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). Get enhanced practicum support with our Practicum Pledge.
CCNE
Online
RN Required
Enrollment: Nationwide, excluding NY, RI and CT. Certain programs have additional state restrictions. Check with Walden for details.
-
MSN - Psychiatric-Mental Health NP
-
MSN - Family NP
-
MSN - Adult-Gerontology Acute Care NP
-
MSN - Adult-Gerontology Primary Care NP
-
MSN - Pediatric NP - Primary Care
-
Post-Master's Cert - Psychiatric-Mental Health NP
-
Post-Master's Cert - Family NP
-
Post-Master's Cert - Adult-Gerontology Acute Care NP
-
Post-Master's Cert - Adult-Gerontology Primary Care NP
-
DNP
Whether you’re taking the first steps toward a nursing degree, seeking to advance as a nurse or want to hone your craft with specialized study, there’s a path for you at Purdue Global’s School of Nursing. Our programs were designed so that you can easily balance your lives at home and work with school - without sacrificing the rigor and cutting-edge curriculum of a quality nursing education.
CCNE
Online
RN Required
Enrollment: Nationwide, but certain programs have state restrictions. Check with Purdue for details.
GCU's College of Nursing and Health Care Professions has a nearly 35-year tradition of preparing students to fill evolving healthcare roles as highly qualified professionals.
CCNE
Online
RN Required
Enrollment: Nationwide
At Ohio University, we provide aspiring and current nursing professionals programs and credentials that will help them launch their careers and advance toward leadership positions.
CCNE
Online
RN Required
Enrollment: Nationwide, except AL, AZ, CO, DE, GA, IA, ID, KS, LA, MD, MN, ND, NE, NY, OK, OR, RI, SD, TN, UT, VA, WA, and WY
How Much Do Nurse Practitioners Make by City?
In general, metropolitan areas will have higher median wages than suburban or rural areas because of their high living costs. See how the average nurse practitioner salary by city compares to nonmetropolitan areas, according to BLS reports:
Top 5 Highest Paying Cities for Nurse Practitioners
- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA - $191,250
- Napa, CA - $187,640
- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA - $186,730
- Vallejo-Fairfield, CA - $183,120
- Salinas, CA - $162,760
Top 5 Highest Paying Nonmetropolitan Areas for Nurse Practitioners
- North Valley-Northern Mountains Region of California nonmetropolitan area - $157,900
- Eastern Sierra-Mother Lode Region of California - $152,100
- North Coast Region of California nonmetropolitan area - $149,300
- Northern New Mexico nonmetropolitan area - $144,470
- Eastern New Mexico nonmetropolitan area - $142,860
>> Related: Top Online Nurse Practitioner Programs
Average Nurse Practitioner Salary by Place of Work
Your workplace will also impact your nurse practitioner salary. Take a look at how an NP salary can change depending on where you work from the most recent BLS data:
- Outpatient care centers - $136,920
- Hospitals; state, local, and private - $136,050
- Offices of physicians - $126,270
- Educational services; state, local, and private - $123,880
- Offices of other health practitioners - $118,300
>> Show Me Online Nurse Practitioner Programs
How Much Does a Nurse Practitioner Make by Specialty?
When prospective nurse practitioners plan their educational path, one of the most critical decisions they must make is about their specialty area.
The American Association of Nurse Practitioners 2020 National Workforce Survey indicates that most nurse practitioners opt for the Family or Adult Nurse Practitioner title. However, those who choose other nurse practitioner specialties may earn higher salaries.
NP Salary by Specialty
| Specialty | Salary | |
 |
General Nurse Practitioner | $124,892 |
 |
Family Nurse Practitioner | $124,900 |
 |
Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner | $118,637 |
 |
Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner | $120,160 |
 |
Pediatric Nurse Practitioner | $119,900 |
 |
Acute Care Nurse Practitioner | $124,190 |
 |
Women's Health Nurse Practitioner | $118,343 |
 |
Orthopedic Nurse Practitioner | $126,900 |
 |
Emergency Nurse Practitioner | $145,117 |
 |
Neonatal Nurse Practitioner | $139,027 |
Is the Nurse Practitioner Salary Worth it? Real Nurses Weigh-in
We asked the Nurse.org social community whether or not they thought becoming a Nurse Practitioner was worth the investment of time and money for the salary increase; here's what they had to say:
- "This is a hard conversation. Is it worth the debt no, is it worth the debt yes! You can’t compare RN money to NP money. As a DNP I make more working 9-5 off weekends, but there is no room to make one dollar more than what is offered not unless your employee offers productivity. (I don’t want to work like that). So now this is when RN’s make more because they work more “total hours”. Or “have another job”. I say go for it and don’t worry about the debt or the money. It’s worth the Autonomy." --kyuraesthetics
- "I have always worked in a clinic as an NP. Other than the actual cost of school and the possibility of a slightly less flexible schedule, I can’t think of any cons. I’ve never regretted my decision. My current schedule is extremely flexible, so that does exist; it just may not be as easy to find in the beginning." -- the.renegade.np
- "I am in DNP-FNP school right now. I made the decision to become a Nurse Practitioner so I can make changes that would benefit the nursing community and the patients we serve. There is no price tag when it comes to years of injustice and frustration to do what is right for humanity and fighting systems that don't help human beings. I've been an RN in acute care for over 16 years." -- nursenarcy
Popular Online Nurse Practitioner (NP) Programs
Earn your nursing degree from one of the largest nursing education providers in the U.S. Walden University’s BSN, MSN, post-master’s APRN certificate, and DNP programs are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). Get enhanced practicum support with our Practicum Pledge.
CCNE
Online
RN Required
Enrollment: Nationwide, excluding NY, RI and CT. Certain programs have additional state restrictions. Check with Walden for details.
-
MSN - Psychiatric-Mental Health NP
-
MSN - Family NP
-
MSN - Pediatric NP - Primary Care
-
MSN - Adult-Gerontology Acute Care NP
-
MSN - Adult-Gerontology Primary Care NP
-
Post-Master's Cert - Psychiatric-Mental Health NP
-
Post-Master's Cert - Family NP
-
Post-Master's Cert - Adult-Gerontology Acute Care NP
-
Post-Master's Cert - Adult-Gerontology Primary Care NP
-
DNP
Whether you’re taking the first steps toward a nursing degree, seeking to advance as a nurse or want to hone your craft with specialized study, there’s a path for you at Purdue Global’s School of Nursing. Our programs were designed so that you can easily balance your lives at home and work with school - without sacrificing the rigor and cutting-edge curriculum of a quality nursing education.
CCNE
Online
RN Required
Enrollment: Nationwide, but certain programs have state restrictions. Check with Purdue for details.
GCU's College of Nursing and Health Care Professions has a nearly 35-year tradition of preparing students to fill evolving healthcare roles as highly qualified professionals.
CCNE
Online
RN Required
Enrollment: Nationwide
At Ohio University, we provide aspiring and current nursing professionals programs and credentials that will help them launch their careers and advance toward leadership positions.
CCNE
Online
RN Required
Enrollment: Nationwide, except AL, AZ, CO, DE, GA, IA, ID, KS, LA, MD, MN, ND, NE, NY, OK, OR, RI, SD, TN, UT, VA, WA, and WY
3 Ways to Increase Your Nurse Practitioner Salary
If you want to increase your nurse practitioner salary, you have options. Here are just three ways you can start earning more as an NP:
1. Certification
Certifications help increase your NP salary because well-paid positions often require them. If you want to know which certifications can help you earn more, look at listings for jobs you want at the salary you desire.
Take note of which credentials show up time and time again, then pursue them. Once you complete the certifications and put them on your nursing resume, you can work on getting those jobs and upgrading your nurse practitioner salary.
2. Administrative Duties
The salary of a nurse practitioner can increase with additional duties. NPs who take on administrative duties, like working as a director or manager, on top of their clinical responsibilities often report higher base salaries.
Keep in mind that without a formal promotion, extra duties won't automatically increase your NP pay. In those cases, you'll want to use these duties (and your performance) as leverage during salary negotiations. Pay attention to your impact so you can argue for higher compensation with empirical data.
3. Advance your Education
Additionally, pursuing additional education and earning a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree can significantly impact your nurse practitioner salary. According to Payscale, nurses with a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree earned an average base salary of $112K as of July 2024. Nurses with a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree, on the other hand, earned an average salary of $104k, $8k less per year than the DNP degree.
Nurse Practitioner Salary FAQs
Curious about what other healthcare professions pay? Check out these salary guides:
